Easter Devotion: Holy Tuesday

By Jennifer Furrey

Worship Minister

Read Mark 13:32-37.

To anticipate means to expect, to foresee, or look forward to a future event, often preparing for it in advance. We anticipate a variety of things: our next vacation, an important phone call, the birth of a baby. Some things we anticipate with dread, and others with great joy and longing. 

As followers of Christ, every day holds the possibility — the anticipation — of His return. It’s easy to grow complacent as years pass by, or when we’ve fixed our eyes on the things of this world — the demands of daily life. It’s easy to do. For some, life is comfortable and full of luxury — “heaven on earth” — and that is a distraction from their need for a Savior. For others, this life seems to be one hardship after another, and it’s hard to believe there will ever be any relief. 

We read of so many incredible events in scripture that have already happened, and sometimes we think, “I wish I could have seen that! I wish I could have been there!” But we get to live knowing that one day we will see the return of Christ! Whether we are still alive or not, we will witness it! When you allow yourself to really sit with that reality and imagine Jesus returning, what emotions surface? When I was young, I remember thinking things like, “I hope Jesus doesn’t come back before I get married and have kids,” because that was what I wanted most out of life. Those are good things without question, but now that I have had those wonderful experiences, I know that Jesus is what every heart is longing for. The amazing things of this world will never compare with what we will experience when we are in the presence of our Savior. And all of the pain and tragedy we see in the world will pale in comparison to the weight of God’s glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). There is more to come!

So what do we do while we wait? We keep watch and we do the assignments he has given us. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God prepared works for us to do in advance. There is work to be done. We have purpose as we watch for His return. So when that ultimate day comes, let Him find us as faithful servants. Let us live each day anticipating that our King is coming back for us, and may that spur us on to share our hope with others!